From 46 Stone to Qualified Personal Trainer — Jack Atkinson

[music] Welcome back everybody. PT Launch Lab and it's episode 23. >> No idea. [laughter] >> Episode 23. That's what we're going to go with. Um, welcome back. 2026 and today we've got Jack Atinson. >> Tom Cheers. Yeah, good.

Good. >> How you feel like being on your first podcast? Is it a bit >> Yeah, weird. Bit bit strange. Bit different. Obviously, I a guy that never put anything out there. >> Um only if you hear good even like my own photo.

So, bit >> podcasts are the easiest, laziest way to do content cuz you just sit down and talk. Yeah. To plan it out. You can just talk [\h__\h] for an hour. Have you got like an hour's worth of real time? >> I think I think on that note, mate, let's um go right back then.

So from where you started from when was the first time you actually started training were that when you got to your worst or did you have a did you have past training? Did you used to train when you were younger? Were you in school? Were you any teams? Did you play rugby?

Anything right from when it started where it went wrong? >> Yeah. Yeah. So um I played rugby a lot when I were a kid. Played um age like nine up to like 17 18. did the typical like meta bird kind of like started going less and less training but I were always a big lad on pitch back then >> it did a bit of boxing and that it's all around normally norm that uh do you know we've been rub we've been a rugby lad obviously size can matter in rugby can't it >> so do you reckon that didn't help the weight situation because it was such a good asset during the sport and you could use weight or an excuse to eat bad or Um, I just think eating weren't even like a mentality for me back then. Like it didn't even I didn't think about it.

Like like I were a 13 pound baby. So like >> like m I were like >> poor mother. >> You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. >> That weren't a natural birth would it? >> Uh no. No. >> God bless. >> But yeah that's it.

But no it were like uh for me I were always big kid. I were always I weren't lads and that but it were always like we're always big lad running slowest. But like you say it it were never in my brain to like oh eat well or do I just saw it as like to be fair I weren't even great at rugby. It were more just all me mates were there so I loved it and that's what we did. >> I think yeah I played rats. It's >> you it's not about I mean if you got already got a physical statue it's one of those that rupee is one of those athletic sports only people started out athletic now.

Whereas if you were a big lad it's like right you're a front row. >> Yeah that's it. And then you're just a front rower. It doesn't matter you're a fitness level. It's like you're the biggest key on his pitch. You're going to be in front of everybody. >> Oh, if if I step up field now and I want prop, I'd take it to heart. >> Imagine going back after his weight loss.

It's like you're a winger now. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] >> So from So from there, when did how long did you play rub before? >> Uh about eight, nine years. Um played for Normy uh quite a long time in school and it was just more like fun with mates rather than like taking it seriously. I never going to be much or I want like a just for a bit of fun. >> Yeah. So from so from there where where did it get to a point where you realized or noticed your weight loss?

Where were were you just working a normal job at that time? Obviously now you're you're a PT and that's what we're going to go into more. But I want to know like where where it all started. What point did you get to where you were like I've let this go too far. >> Yeah. If you don't mind me asking what was your heaviest? >> Uh I wore 46 and a half stone at my biggest.

So that one m >> What's that in kilogram? >> Uh it's like over I think it's over like 250 kg. >> Oh yeah. >> So yeah, fair old boy light. But um >> big lading there. >> Yeah. But no, so it won't This is the thing that I say to everyone like it won't like a oh I just one year we're in good shape and then one year I won't. Yeah. I remember I was like 17 at college and I did my first year in plumbing and then we went on to a second year and it were like >> people had started to notice and say like my mates how you put a bit of timber on you know like in the time off and then it was just that consecutively you know like year year after year just putting it on and putting it on. >> So this is I always find this interesting because I was a bigger kid years ago and I don't everybody thinks you just sort of notice all the way through.

It's like oh I'm going to do something about it now. But I don't know if it's the same for you. You never knew until you knew when you were at your worst. Like you have to hit a rock bottom to go. It's cuz you see yourself every day as well and you you understand you can probably understand that you're a bit big but never think it's that much of a problem until you realize maybe seen a photo. >> Yeah. >> With with someone and think and that's the first time you realize you put even more on. >> Yes.

It It's an hard one cuz now I know it's like a stone easily. Yeah. >> Because like you're checking it all the time. You're keeping on top of it. Whereas back then I didn't really keep on top of weight and also like I were used to being the biggest one in photos, the tallest kid when we were in little school, the biggest lad on rugby pitch. You know what I mean?

I I used to being the biggest one. Then like >> when my mates want that size, it were like, >> oh well I've always been bigger than that lad of me so it's no different. But then it started to get it like you say people started noticing and saying and the more people are saying the more it were like right it's starting to come a bit true now do you know what I mean? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You sort of time to accept it. >> Yeah. >> So what were so next protocol that you went from there? What so what were the Can you remember the day you just went that's it? >> Yeah.

Yeah. So it were like uh Christmas between I think it were 21 and 22. Um I was like I've had enough now. But at that point that's when I were at my biggest. So [snorts] 2019 2020 I'd tried losing weight through like you know done things with like um NHS on their schemes been see dietitionianists been to do different things just not really sticking I'd got to a point where it were like >> I were too big to just like like people say oh why don't you just go for a run but like at that size it were like too far do you know what I mean too far gone >> so 2020 uh yeah 2021 Christmas in between Christmas and New Year I like I said to me, mom, I were like, "Ah, this is it now." Do you know what I mean?

I'm kind of done with it. >> Is the uh is the first thing you do went to NHS then or did you uh did you go to a PT or >> No. No. Like, funnily enough, I never really PT I felt like PT and weren't as big or whether it's cuz I'm into it now. I see on my phone all the time. >> 100%. Whether you're in the industry, >> because I want in the industry, I never really saw it.

The only thing I ever saw were like lads coming to like rugby training and been like putting us through a certain circuit, you know, that were brought in by our coaches, but not like actual dedicated, oh, sign up with these and you'll do this. It wasn't like that. >> So, first thing I did is I went to NHS and went on like their diet scheme and all they did were like they give me like um three month gym membership. >> Yeah. and then like a dietician to check in with and I lost like five stone with them but I ended up like putting more than the what I'd lost back on and it were that point where once I'd put more on than I'd lost I kind of like it's getting much now is it yeah see the theme of the roller coaster you needed something >> you sort of just missed that window where they've started introducing JLP1 into people's prescription you know I think they were really prescribing it back then they >> you ever have that conversation with them or not >> how recent is that you know like your MARO and Yoz It's since the >> I know it has. Yeah. But it just But it's only come >> Yeah. >> to a to forefront now I think like last year. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Or it might again cuz I weren't really that much about it. >> From what I got told about it.

Um it's a friend of mine. She's really into basically it's been around since the 80s. Bodybuilders alike were using it but because people are using it recreationally. The NHS introduced it to sort of uh monetize it. >> Yeah. Yeah.

But again, people get it through NHS and people like, I don't want to go through NHS. They'll get it from >> everywhere and everywhere. It's just you can't stop recreational use of anything. You can only control what you can control. And I think it's so popular now is because someone like you, you're like a really big example of you can do it. >> Yeah. >> But you have to stick it out.

And I think people just like fall into these these camps of what's the easiest and quickest way to achieve my goal. And the question is, are you gonna be happier while you're doing it? Because at your point, you've been through all the hardships. All these people get quicker fixes on it and don't do anything to >> Yeah, that's that's that's a interesting part of it as well is um did you want to just lose the weight or did you want to be fit and healthier? That's the main that's >> No, no.

For me, I just wanted to like I noticed that during what it were like I last kept saying like I know you worth so much more and that and I always had like this mentality of like oh I want to do this business and I want to do that and it like my mom my mom used to own like burger vans so like I always wanted to do like something with that and it's like I always enjoyed all food and that but like for me with GLP1s like I don't think they're a bad thing. I think a bit like me like I had gastric surgery abroad didn't I like what four over four year ago now. So it's like that would have kickstarted to me. >> Was that your was that the first procedure? >> Yeah. Yeah. I I went through twist and bull and had it done.

But it were like for me it were like you're not going to tell someone at that size that oh you can't use that tool. You've cheated. I've already heard that. >> I agree. GLP1 is a fantastic fantastic thing to do because it kickstarts everything. It gets your hormones balanced.

There's a lot of benefits to it. But what we're finding now is we've got people who's not particularly in a worse enough state that they can't get out of it themselves who are using it as an excuse to lose this weight and then they don't actually fix any problems cuz a lot of muscle mass is lost if they're not training. They're not eating near enough at all. It's actually causing more health problems cuz people don't know actually how to use it. >> Yeah, that's it. I'm not against it but it's all it's all circumstantial.

So it's like it's are you a 12 stone woman wanting to be 10 stone or are you a 40 stone man wanting to get down to 20 and you need a boost >> you know to start you off a bit like my surgery like that were a kickstart but then my weight plateaued at like 31 stone >> and when I stopped when I noticed that at 31 stone right the surgery now has gone back it's not really doing it anymore do I want to stay at this weight and everyone was saying like you look good now or you know you look Hey, you're a tall lad, 6'4, but it were like it's like a tool in it. That tool were now done. Can I carry on myself? And at that way, I could. So that's when I started getting into like training myself and stuff like that. >> So you So it were So you tried the NHS, tried the schemes with them, you could see that they were going to be a roller coaster.

So then you chose to do go to Istanbul, >> get the um >> weight loss surgery. >> Get the weight loss surgery. And then from there you got to a sticking point uh and then realized it's weren't enough to just have that that you need to be training as well. >> Yeah. So that's it. So like I went from like 46 stone down or 46 and a half stone. I think I lost like two stone full of surgery.

So you have to have like a liquid diet 12 weeks. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> To shrink your liver. Um so got down to let's say for 42 43 stone something like went and had the surgery and then I lost 11 stone and at 31 stone I'd noticed that like my weight had stopped losing because my mental side had not changed like yeah I were eating less but it was still like oh biscuits crisps like things they call like slider foods. So like if you can eat like let's say you eat something like a dense protein like chicken um you can only eat so much of it in your stomach >> because your stomach's been reduced in size whereas slider foods like crisps and chocolate they go through your stomach quicker so you can eat more of them. Do you know what I mean? So I were like eating that and then it's like at 31 stone I'd stop losing the weight.

So it were like right now I need to start putting some actual effort into what I'm eating. Do you know what I mean? Was this in the time because I remember when we first stopper in this place you popped down to inquire about the boxing. >> Yeah, I did the boxing for the in my class for a bit >> because when you applied for the course I saw the updates of where you was then I was honestly flabbergasted. I could not believe how much you smashed it. >> Yeah. Yeah.

So I didn't do no training up to like 31 stone and then a bit like why I've done what I've done so far which we'll go into but like I didn't feel like I had anywhere I could train comfortably. So I were like I at like a weightfield council gym you know it's full of old women on machines and that it's like no one's going to judge me no like not like now where you know in heavy bodybuilding gyms. Uh so I didn't have the confidence. So no, I think when I came here I was probably down to about like I think I like 27 stone or something like that when I were still going through burpees and that. >> So interesting you so you talk about the mentality of you didn't want people looking at you or judging you. What's your mindset on that now?

Because obviously I've I've spent a lot of years in gym so is Ryan. What you realize now is in my opinion I don't know if it's the same as yours no one's actually paying attention to you. >> Yeah. No one cares. So, is that just your intrusive thought that's always coming forward? And now, do you realize that or do you still get that feeling? >> No.

No. Like, I now realize like everyone's there just to do their own work, get in and get out. Everyone wants to just go home and chill out, but it's like it's hard to say that when you're when you are so big or where you are so unconfident or like I have people where they think they don't know what they're doing. So, like they're like I don't want to go in and then do something wrong and have people look at me for doing it wrong. And it's like make you more likely for people to reach out and be like, "Oh, you're doing that wrong.

This is how you should do it." But like some people don't like that, you know? >> It's all the environment. So it's like unless you unless you see it for yourself or you're around the gym again, >> you don't know what the cuz I think the gym community can be the nicest of of any you know people and support. I mean Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, some gyms you get s can be a bit different but most gyms I've ever been to uh have been welcoming through door and then if anyone's struggling always helping and there's never been any judgmental factor.

I've never been in a conversation where someone said hey look at him doing this. I've just never seen it. >> I've only been witnessed to a very very very small number of gyms that have that attitude. >> Yeah. >> Not very successful. like all around probably five towns like I've trained in like quite a lot at gyms obviously through knowing different people who are in gyms and a few different combat sports you know a bit like here and that and it's like every single person you talk to like if I tell my story or if my story comes up like they're all like oh that that's mint like there's nobody that gives you a negative side of it it's only in fact it's only people that are not in the gym industry that's ever said to me like >> well you've cheated your way ain't you cuz you had a surgery and like >> but it's never like people in the gym that know you need to do what you got to do to get where you want to go. >> Nobody below you judges you. >> Yeah. Yeah. Is it I find that it's like every and as well like >> when you're trying to do your own thing as well like when I talk to people like it's always the 9 to5 guys that are like oh it won't work. It'll fail.

Like everyone that's doing their own thing are all like go for it 100%. >> That's fear from their side cuz they're not happy. >> Yeah. Or jealousy cuz they they don't want to take that risk themselves. They don't like that you're taking a risk. And the thing is most of the time in the beginning people want you to do well. They just don't want you to do better than them.

So then when you see and you get something behind them that's when they've got something to say usually like I can remember when I first set my my gym up. And when I first set the ultimate shred up and it were doing well and everyone were buzzing and everyone was sharing everything all of a sudden then when it got really big I had the same people like putting stuff about it like ripping into it and I were like and I literally had messages off that person saying keep doing what you're doing mate. You're doing well. And then soon as it blew up, everything had everyone had something negative to say, you know, like they they want they want to be there to support you until then they feel like they've wasted their life doing doing a 9 to5. But >> yeah, I find that like the only the only it's a bit weird, isn't it?

Cuz you can grow up with people and have friends from school and that that want you to do well or you think they want you to do well, >> but then like the support you get in what you're doing is from like other people in the industry more. Yeah, it's like people you might have known like a year, they'll support you more than people that you grew up with. >> I think that's a lesson of getting older as well. I think when you change your mindset and I again I always say it and we always say it is a thing called small town mindset. And the problem is when you start doing something that's different from the herd. >> Yeah. >> People you got two types of people. You got people that back you or you got people that do the opposite but judge you. >> Yeah. >> You know, say, you know, if you have a failure in your business or your life, they're the first one to go, "Well, I told you that that." Yeah.

Well, you know, I went on about this to uh to Maddie yesterday, my uh fiance. Like cuz she I've always talked to her cuz every time she's putting pictures on, she got all the nice clothes on. Everyone's always asking her where the clothes from. And so you should do some on his Tik Tok or something like she's all she's almost at time like why do you not do it? She goes, I know, but if I post pictures now, I don't get many likes or it's not like I mean she's not all in that sound bad, but and I said you know you'll get more support from other people who don't know you than people who do.

That's just how it is. And I literally had that conversation with her yesterday. I said, "I think she'd enjoy it." And do you know what? Like this, this podcast might never take off, but I enjoy doing it, so who cares? >> Yeah. >> Enjoy it. You've got there's got to be an element of the enjoyment like you can't be forced.

Such as yourself. You've gone from all of a sudden you're doing training just to help yourself. And then like we just like you said out there earlier, become a passion from. Oh yeah. >> There were no nothing set in stone like all of a sudden you get into it, you enjoy it. Why not make it your career? >> Yeah.

It's so funny you brought that up because like I talk with a lot of people whose positions I think are good positions that they're in and I was talking to a gym owner the other day and we were having a bit of a discussion about it and he said like you know as long as you're true to your sen and it's the passion that you're following people will see through it all like all the faintness like people doing something and then six months later dropping it off they all they all rise up and fall but like if you are genuinely passionate about what you're doing and it's not about the money because it's hard work mate it is hard work and it's a lot of time. >> The hours it's unsociable hours people never see it and when you're messaging like people see the results at end. I mean we're going to go into before and afters and stuff soon like we've mentioned but uh even then people see all that. They see all the glitter and the fancy stuff behind it. But they don't see you messageing when they're struggling at middle of night or when they message you at 11 at night saying mate I could just go into fridge and raid it or go in me cupboards I've got some biscuits I'm dying to eat or oh mate I've messed up. I bet this I bet that right don't worry about it. this is what we're going to do to uh be accountable for it or whatever.

People don't see you on that. They only see you that's where you need the passion. >> Oh. Oh, mate. Definitely. Especially with like the emotional side as well.

Like I've had clients like in tears on video calls to me and that because like that week they've failed. >> Yeah. >> And it's like the emotional side of it as well is draining. Like how much you invest into people and sometimes they don't invest it into themselves. >> That's the core of the job, isn't it? Um we've said >> Yeah. 50/50 counseling. Yeah. Like I could write programs with my eyes shut.

I could write nutrition plans with my eyes shut. It's one of the easiest things you can do. Plus you got the help of AI as well. Yeah. >> But the thing is now what we're starting to realize and what we try and teach is the biggest job as a personal trainer >> is supporting the people that you're working with cuz they can follow if you could just follow a plan and get the results we'd be useless. We'd be not necessary.

But we're here to support them and let them know that they're on a journey. >> Yeah. >> Mistakes matter. >> That's it. And it's like like you said, anyone can go on AI find put their weight and height in and get what they need from it. But it's the accountability and what I think is the main point of it is like having someone that that knows been in that position before. >> Yeah. >> Which is great for me. >> I've been bigger than every one of my clients. So I understand where they're coming from. Yeah. >> So, it's having the accountability and I think it's also having like that the person that understands where they're coming from because >> everyone's been there like you're on a journey but everyone around you is not.

So, other people don't understand it. So, like if people are trying to lose weight and all the friends are going out or they're going for a meal here and this and other and people don't understand it's like they don't have that person to touch base with in the friend group maybe. >> So, they need someone outside of the friend group. I think that's important like not having I don't think PTS help when you're super close friends because they don't have that oh I want to do well for them. It's more like, oh well, he's my best mate. He's not >> I I get that with a fighting lad.

So I don't the PT wise and like because I get everyone who they didn't start off as friends but then So I agree what you're saying. They didn't start off as friends now very close with all my clients now but couple that I train with with the fighting and stuff and it's bit more leeway to them when they shouldn't be like they should be ones that we we give most attention but I know exactly what you're saying. But going back on that point then, so you spoke it to me just out there briefly. So following a program like we've just been mentioning then want enough you said yourself you felt like you almost needed counseling. >> Yeah. >> And that were it because you kept falling you go right I've done this really well and then all right I'll put it all back on. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So like again that's probably is that where the passion you first thought is you thought do you know what I could do if someone were just helping me and talking to me or guiding me or mentally preparing me?

Um, I don't it wasn't that. It was more just like I didn't have that. You know what I mean? It was more like I saw what I didn't have. >> Um, until I went and got my own PT. >> Yeah. Well, this is what this is what I'm saying.

Is that is that what because because you cuz you didn't have it. Is that why? >> Yeah. Yeah. So that So that's it. So like I didn't have it and then I went and got my own PT. um which did great for me and it were like >> it weren't about like the plan he gave me or the food he told me to eat.

It was simple stuff. It was the fact that like Yeah. Yeah. It were the fact that like here's somebody that I don't want to let down and somebody that like I know is watching me. >> It a little bit and someone to message. Do you know what I mean?

And that little bit of encouragement when you need it and that little bit of accountability when you need it. Having that bit of bit and bat in it. >> Yeah. Of course, mate. Yeah. I think there's like a really fine divide between because it's really unavoidable especially in my case your case as well most BTS to not end up being mates with your clients because it's you're spending a lot of time with them >> your first session to your template it's completely different like you walk in you're like yes bro it's sign your first >> 100% >> it's one of those it's one of the best things about it in my opinion because you get to meet people and you get to really invest in people and to be fair My uh view on this is that when you get to know them more and you get to be friends with them, the level of honesty can increase. >> Yeah. >> Like listen, right, I know that we enjoy our sessions, but you need to turn it up a notch or you need to stop being hard on yourself.

I know you're having a glass of wine every night. Just cut it back by one every other day. >> Yeah. And you can you can have it more like a bit of a laugh or banter depending on the person. like well I mean I must have spoke about in every single podcast I' been like a chameleon and some people come mate sort out man like and you'll give them a bit of give a bit of [\h__\h] for it to be fair but then others you have to be a bit more delicate with them. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's like >> every single person's different. >> Yeah.

It's like finding each person like what you need to be like with that person is it like some people you might talk to them one way and they might react bad >> and then other people you know if you don't talk to them that way they're not going to do it. >> Yeah. >> Do you know what I mean? is find that balance for each >> figuring it out like I've I've done I've made a couple of mistakes along way and talked to talked to the wrong person wrong way and then we thought a little fallout and it's only whe in their best intention but it's just some people get dealt with different that's from over years I very very rarely if ever get that now but when I were younger I starting like you try one uh method and it works with someone and you try it with everyone and then all of a sudden you've got this um these problems where people are reacting different like we're saying Yeah. Yeah. >> So, what type of training you doing now? You're running with clients now, aren't you? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, it's basically just it's very basics like everyone's got their own specialism, you know, who they want to reach out to their niche.

For me, my niche is people who are, you know, either beginners in the gym or never really been in um not super confident in what they're doing. So, we're doing we're doing a lot of basics. Um and it's more about the food really. The training is just to supplement it. is to start getting the brain into what they need to be building up to. Um, >> sounds d I've had people reach out to like, oh, I want to put size on and do this.

I've said like, I'm not really your guy. Like, it's great that they're coming, but it's like >> and that's how it should be in in industry as well, not taking work just because you need it. And >> that's a really good level of honesty and that needs to be happening more. >> Yeah. Literally, I I I had it recently. Um, you know, skinny lad wanting to put size on.

I said like, I don't really think I'm the person for you. like yeah we know each other but there is better out there that would be better in your scenario. >> Absolutely. And so from becoming a PT so what were your approach to actually getting the client base? Would it was it um reaching out to people yourself and say do you want to come do a bit of free training build some testimonials? Like what were your approach to just obviously what we're targeting for this podcast really is new PTS. Obviously what what we do is getting new PTs on board, getting people qualified, but then we want to give that bit extra now where we take people like yourself uh and we get as many different routes and successful um people like in in this industry to give us all these different different stories and go you could be this, you could be this, you could be this and you could mix all these together and you and they find their own roots and they try different things.

So what what were your approach? >> Yeah. So for me, like everyone had noticed I were losing weight and I was training just from like what I were doing myself. Um, and it were like I had a few friends that were saying like, "Oh, I want to do this or I could do losing a bit." More just like from seeing me lose it, you know, that had known me from being bigger and then it were like, "Well, I'll help you if you want." >> Um, obviously I helped out a few people last year. um like free helped them all out, took them training um and then started building my own little thing and then the food came into it. So they were like, "Oh, I'm going to eat this for dinner." And they were like, "You could be better eating eating this or eating that." And you know, I know you like to eat that meal, but here's a meal I've met that's very similar with some better swaps that make it half the calories. So then it like getting people into that mindset.

And then when it were like I'd done it for them, it were kind of like, you know, I can do this. And that's where obviously I were getting qualified at the time as I were doing it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So it were more just like it were more just like word of mouth for me. Like like I said, I've never been like a big social media guy. It's all a bit new to me now. >> Yeah. >> Um so it were never like oh I'm doing this for people.

Like if anything the first post I put up about actually taking people in on prices what like two week ago. >> Yep. So before that, every person I had and helped out were all like, "Oh, he's done this. You should Oh, I saw him in ad the other day. You should see what he's done. Why don't you message him?" >> Yeah. >> You're walking billboard for it cuz you are you are the pinnacle of the success story. >> Yeah, that's it.

It's like people see it now, but you know, I I had I've had it before. I uh I instantul for one of my skin removal surgeries. I was training in a gym there like two days before cuz I thought clear my mind a bit. go a training session training a gym down there and like this uh Turkish guy come over and he like oh you don't need to do weights you need to go on treadmill you cuz I was still like this like a year or two back so I was still a bit bit of a big guy I thought like you don't even know where I started you know what I mean but like is what it isn't it like people who do know where I started and where I am now >> I think that's one bad thing I mean obviously that sound is quite light hard but um I think that is another that's one of the things probably the cons about being in the gym is people trying to help you when they actually don't know what they're doing and It's never happened to me, but you see it all over social media, don't you? And someone's doing some probably an athlete who's practicing something and you don't want to do that. You want to do this?

And you're like, mate, >> well, these are language skills that we teach in the course. Basically, the way he did it was like, I know more than you. You should do this. Instead, you could have gone over and said, oh, what you doing? What's your goals?

Says, oh, well, actually, if you added this into it, it might help you a bit more. Yeah. >> Or instead, he come over and tried to put his foot down and say, you can't do this. This ain't going to work. >> Yeah. you want to do. >> Unfortunately, I commercial gyms are the worst for this. The on floor PTS that are just ping about. I remember one of the times I local commercial gyms and there was this like hippie looking fella just bobbing around and I was bench press.

He come over I can have 20 kg morty or bench press. I like who the [\h__\h] are you? [laughter] >> And it's for me that it's sort of hostile straight away. Yeah. >> Rather than saying hi, how you doing? when he hits there. Yeah, >> he just sort of danced over just like >> Yeah, I can remember a strange guy PT and uh he lasted about two months I think. But but so from from there, mate, >> so where are you training people now?

Cuz you're not at a gym or you're at >> No. No. Um so I train at multiple gyms myself just cuz I like to like I know a lot of people. I like to keep in touch with a lot of people. >> Um and it it does become a small world, don't it? like you end up like everyone knows each other and we all get along but it's uh myself I I've turned my double garage into like a one-to-one training facility. So again reaching out to the people >> garage or garage >> garage I don't know I don't know you know you're not the first person to say that to me >> but yeah >> where garage >> garage men's >> but no it's um like I say which suits my niche perfectly because it's for people that are too unconfident to be in a gym whether it be a commercial gym a bodybuilding gym one of these new iRocks gyms like I want the people that are too scared to be in places don't want, you know, are worried about what they'll look like if they're doing sit-ups or burpees, let's say.

But in my place, they can do that. And because it is just us, they can really have like they can really put their mind into like learning the training. >> They can attempt it cuz if they fail, there's no one to to feel like the judge of I've said that before like I've got, you know, I've got some big clients at the minute and I said before like don't worry cuz however you feel now, I've been bigger and felt worse. Do you know what I It's a good way of doing it. >> Yeah. >> And I think I like um >> I like the way how it's >> it's almost like privately online and it it's kind of a mixer too, do you know? Like no one really knows they're doing it. They can just do it in their own.

No one knows. They can message you. It's not like they're going to meet you in a big commercial gym. You'd never meet them people in a commercial gym. No, they have to >> they have to message and be quiet and all of a sudden Yeah.

And I can imagine it's very hard to get testimonials and um before and afters off these people though because so I'll probably lead on to the next point as what you wanted to touch on is although I think the story that you've got is brilliant. I feel like the client base is brilliant. It's something that we've not talked about on here. It's not I've I've never really talked about it to anyone either. You know, like you've just said people like myself who are quite quiet and I'm going to do it >> that sort of in dark and I never really thought about that either.

So yeah, to hear this is um So what's that like >> trying to promote though? Cuz people don't want they don't want you to tell that like the big guys are going to go I don't want you to put me online. >> It's really good. >> Yeah, it really is. It's like you know obviously we do photos but like I say to everyone like if you're not willing you don't want me to post them, they don't go nowhere. That's the point of me. Like >> at some point they'll want you to post them and that will be where your business >> Yeah. >> absolutely skyrockets. >> That's it.

But it's about keeping them on for that long. Do you know what I mean? To wear the confident themselves because I find a lot of people it's like but come on they lose the you know they lose the five or six stone and then it's like they get happy where they're at but not happy enough to be like sure off. >> I always I always think that as well with people with the weight loss obviously they've got a tendency that's like you like again you said out there. I mean he should start saying it on podcast really but um he said addiction. >> Yeah >> he said addiction is eating as much as it is drugs to them. So when they do that, although they're doing really well, they've always got that creep of that food addiction to come in.

So it's very hard for them to just keep going. Yeah, that's it. And with testimonials, like I do find it hard because like you see them out there where they they're having they're doing weekly ones weekly and they're all great. Anyone losing weight and getting healthier or it's all positive. It's great stuff.

I say this all the time like open a gym up on every street. It's better than opening a kebab shop up or an air desk. >> Do you know what I mean? But like if they're losing if they're going from 14 stone to 11 stone, it's brilliant. But they're happy to put the f photos on cuz they'll put the before photos on and not been that fussed. >> Yeah. >> Whereas when they're going from like 30 stone to 20, at 20 stone, they still don't want the photos up there cuz they're still not where they want to be. >> How do you um how do you approach people who come in for weight loss and like you know they're going to be hurdles, especially with people just starting. They'll come to you and they'll say, "I've stuck to it.

We know they aren't. >> Yeah, we know they aren't. They've come in, they might have put a pound on. How do you deal with that? >> Yeah, it's hard because like the deficit that they get put on with the foods they're given the the the food volume is quite an amass. So, I know they're eating all the time, but the food they're eating enough for them to gain weight. So, when they gain weight, like don't get me wrong, first week it it's quite easy, but like there has been people where I've said like it's just not working.

I don't I don't want to take your money. Yeah. because I know that if you fail this, you're going to go somewhere. You've told everyone that you're doing it with me. >> Then you've not done it. So then everyone thinks I can't do it >> and then it just looks bad for me. So I if it's like after a few weeks if I see people are just failing and failing and failing and we've tried all those methods of being accountable.

I do put things in place like >> uh photos daily of what they're eating like >> you know obviously I don't do this with everyone but like people I can see they're starting to slip. It's like steps getting sent through every day and they just basically they end up becoming more work for yourself because it's like I'm trying to keep them in check even more so I'm doing more for it. >> Yeah. Another another version of that would be um people get hooked on you know the first two weeks like weight loss and it's like falling off them and they're like wa I lost a stone and all of a sudden it slows down like and then like I ain't lost enough and then that's your problem as well which obviously we've got to um obviously you got to explain to them but approach I've always used um I mean Callum said it earlier with choice got repeat that with a choice you know um would you be would you put good on >> so a A lot of the time the way that I do it and the way that worked for me and the way that keeps me consistent, you've got two options. Someone else comes to you and says, "Would you rather look good for the rest of your life or feel good for the rest of your life?" I choose to feel good for the rest of your >> day. That's exactly where my point is leading to is the other approach is really good.

So you can touch on the fitness thing. So a natural motivation will occur at some point anyway. So person who's doing squats to I don't know, they might be doing it above knees. And all of a sudden then we're only doing five of them. Next week you're doing 10.

Then we're starting to get a bit lower. And that's what I sort of my other approach is. Yeah. But look how well you're moving better. And I start I start using progress on exercise. >> Yeah.

Yeah. >> Over constantly on the weight loss. And then when I start putting all the work in, they go >> I'm training like this and I'm still eating these biscuits like I need to I'm going to put more into it now. And there's a natural motivation. At some point it does kick in. People's changed again.

We talked about being a chameleon. Like all these approaches work on different people like rather than to be fit and healthy, the results will come. Like got to have that bit of patience. We all lose weight at different rates as well. That was my biggest complaint again doing ultimate shred is um I had me I had me men coming in and saying they go I've lost a stone and a half already and then I'd have lads going I've already lost um four four pound or whatever and they're like he's lost 8 kilos.

Yeah, but he's 25 stone. You're 13 stone. Like exactly which >> did you want to start that way or would you rather be what you are now? Like and there people don't look at any other perception other than other than that they compare themselves and they're like well I he lost this or say it same you lost all this be >> well what I do on on our plan is we have a weekly progress chart and we uh we put in what each person's lost each week but we also work it out as a body percentage. So like if someone weighs 10 stone and they've lost a pound, it's a percent of their weight, which would be the same one some as someone who's 20 stone losing two pound.

It's the same percentage. >> Do you know what I mean? So So I put that in place. So it's like, yeah, you've only lost three pound, but that works out at 2.7% of your total body weight you've lost. >> You know what I mean? Because you are so light as a person. >> Yeah. That and again, that's a what an argument to be able to have because that cuts any of that >> Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. argument completely out, don't it? >> Yeah. That's one thing that we do in place each week. Um where they get to see that where Yeah. And it helps as well like with people that let's say they started at 18 stone and then the 14 stone and it's like no no you're still losing like 1.5% a week >> like so don't worry because just like you were when you were start >> but at start it were4 pound a week and now it's two pound a week.

It's still actually the same amount. >> So how how important the before and afters ke? So we we had this convers Oh, we did all his best bits out there. >> So now we're just reiterating what they said. It's it's usually >> that one out there. >> Yeah. >> But we were having this conversation. I interestingly had this with our learners last week. So we were talking about before and afters because one particular learner says a little bit like what you said like my type of clients, my sort of target audience would not want to do before and afters.

But before and afters are becoming a very old timely thing. They're all they're still belonging on social media to these transformation specialists and all this stuff. But when you look at it from the top down and you see a transformation fold, one of two things can happen, right? You see it and you go, you're maybe already 18 20% body fat. So, it wouldn't be that hard to get down to that 15% below.

You're like, "Oh, that sounds really good. I could do that." or somebody maybe in your starting position sees that and like there is no way I'm going to be able to do that in an 8week challenge or eight weeks and I'm never going to put a photo on there. >> But the biggest changes that you described having is you're more confident, you're happier, you've got a bit of structure, you're sleeping better, your joints don't hurt as much. You were saying it during your practical like the movements you can perform now, you'd have had no chance doing them back when you started. >> Oh yeah. It's it's exact same we did that charity walk like just simple >> as what I was like what I wanted to build up to is when you're trying to post on social media if photo transformations aren't for you can go off case studies you can go off videos and photos of your clients exercising like saying you know Linda was at this point of a weight where she couldn't squat cuz her knees were killing her and now she's banging out 10 body weight squats even throwing a burpee in there like look at where she's at because you're going going to speak to somebody out there who wants to do that, who needs to do that, and understands that, oh, it's time. I just need to start. >> Yeah.

It's funny you mentioned that cuz I had one client um and he said same. He said like he were never affected about his weight. He's not an unconfident guy, you know, 18, 19 stone, let's say. And he said himself, he were like, um, I noticed I want to make a difference when my knees hurt. And I'm thinking, you know, I'm 30 odd.

My knees shouldn't be hurting when I wake up on a morning. And it's like the difference to when he dropped down to the weight he's at now and insane like you know I jump out of bed I'm I'm never tired and like part of it is obviously the insulin spikes because before with the things he would eating. Yeah. So like he were feeling sluggish middle of day and he's saying like I shouldn't be tired halfway through day and it's about like giving him a baseline that's more achievable rather than like you know like >> I haven't I haven't like I'm obviously low weight anyway but for me at this weight to my fight weight like and and I'm and I'm small uh considered small anyway I'd um I feel definite impact on me legs and me back when I'm running. >> Oh yeah. And that so we're talking that set minuscule compared to like the big guys.

I can't imagine the difference in in pain and struggle like just on on each run. >> Oh yeah. Me at my biggest it would just walk in pain. Yeah. Yeah. Pretty much.

But it's uh it's like one of them. And you don't realize you don't realize how good it could have been until you're at it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Do you know what I mean? >> I think that's what they've done every everything that's happened to you though has been the lesson you needed to get to where you are. So you're kind of thankful for it, aren't you? in a way like you think well you wouldn't be here if you didn't put yourself in position. And I think it builds more character and like what a story and you've done something.

You've achieved something like coming back from that takes more out than just being gifted from birth and then been like working with six pack all the time to be to be put on with this addiction that you can't you can't control and then all of a sudden then fighting against that and then all of a sudden pulling a career from it. And I think >> Oh yeah. I don't even regret getting big. Like it sounds daff but like I don't regret anything. I think everything happens for a reason.

Um, 100%. And it's like if I'd have got big, uh, if I'd have never got big, then maybe I wouldn't help the people that I one day may help. Do you know what I mean? Because if I'd have always stayed that 18 stone, semi in shape, big lad rugby pitch and then just got down to 14 stone. Yeah. >> I wouldn't maybe have been as approachable to the people that are 25 plus stone.

Do you know what I mean? So, I'm open to use what I've done >> as instead of being like, "Oh, I regret that I got that big." Well, it's like, well, let's use it to help people. Do you know what I mean? >> And uh so obviously you do you do online and obviously in the garage? >> Garage. Yeah. Yeah.

I'm going to call it that. >> That's it. Yeah, that's it. Um so do you find better results online or from when you actually train them yourself? >> Uh it is definitely when they're in per when they have the full package when because they >> I don't train anyone in person that's not online. I think even though you can be quite close to people online, there's nowhere near the same connection and you just talk like no matter if you're typing or online like behind behind cameras or behind any like you just you're just chatting to a normal person, aren't you? You're just talking.

They'll tell you things that they can't say in front of anyone else and all of a sudden you've got this bond with someone who you didn't didn't realize you ever going to get close with and then they start putting trust in you. They don't want to let you down on that personal level as well. >> Yeah, that's it. I find a lot of people say that like you know if they have had a bad week they're like dreading the checkin whereas if they're in person compared to online they've got to see you. >> Yeah. >> Whereas where you know they're checking >> they can they can put post a check in you can respond to them then they can just ghost you. Do you know what I mean? and they can just kind of go and then 4 days later they come back with sorry my head's been whereas when they're coming to you regularly in person >> and I feel I feel like thingy as well though like I think you can text in a number of different ways like if I text someone you think they've been funny or not >> yeah read it wrong >> yeah read it wrong so um and they might even think when they're texting you oh god he's going to hate this I've let him down whereas >> there's a bit more of a personal level on it the note obviously going to say obviously we know we need to sort this out but like you know that you're going to be all right with it and understanding and you need to be. >> Yeah, >> you need to be. I've had I've had different types of PTS even on this podcast and some have got like a no tolerance to if you're not if you're not 100% find someone else each to their own.

I prefer to give everyone a chance and I feel like just they just need to find the way that works best for them. >> Well, that's it. that mate there's enough of us out here just in Wakefield alone now where like like you say if your style is what you got to if you want some absolute grinder going to kill it it's you know absolutely on you all the time if that's what suits you then that suits you that's not my niche my niche is the you know I know where you've been these are the steps I took and these are the steps you need to take >> you understand the obstacles as well don't you know how hard it to break habits and like like like Callum said you're living proof. Like what a better thing than you are the product. Like >> yeah, >> you're the proof in it. So you can be like listen mate everything you're feeling I've failed a million times over >> and you realize no one's trying to fail. >> No, you hit obstacles and hurdles. >> Yeah, that's a good way. Good way of putting it that. >> Well, just for them to reach out, you know that they're at a breaking point.

When they're ready to When they reach out, you know, right? They're ready. Do you know what I mean? It's just >> should get that actually. I like that.

Love that. >> That's a good slogan. >> Yeah. My parents are going to tattoo it. [laughter] Wait, we'll get matching ones. >> No, no, no. I think that's I think that's it. Cuz everyone who does come at there've got to be some element of him needing help just for him to message you. >> Whether it would have thought for an impulsive thought to go, yeah, I need to do no, you know what I mean? And come away or something's got to be on there. >> It's vulnerability, isn't it?

Because like you're admitting that you can't do it on your own. And especially men, I find like a lot of men like they don't want to admit that they need that help. >> But it was until Yeah. I went and had the surgery and then I started doing it myself and then once I waited stopped on my own and I were like, "Right, I'm training. I think I'm eating right." It took me to be vulnerable and good to someone and go, "I'm terrible. My head's like this. >> Um, I hate being in these sort of places." And just give everything to somebody else and let them be like, "Don't worry." And it's kind of like, you know, they give you that blanket of support while you're doing it yourself. >> And I think um so probably last last point, looking at time, last point.

Um what I think we should cover. I mean, if you've got any other points, K, you can say, but I think do you need to have had some sort of floor PT experience to actually do it online? Like I'm a big believer in it. Like don't let me stare your head if you think different like this is what we're here for to have this discussion. But um for me, anything online that I've done, I took from personal experience and tried to get some same qualities from being a floor PT to then being online.

Yeah, it's the bit I'm finding difficult cuz obviously I have my own gym with my own set of clients coming in. So I'm not doing the whole roach up to people in gym, try and sell myself to them and then take them through things. But I think as far as the training goes and understanding different people's skill levels and what they're capable of, you do need to be around different types of training levels. >> When when I say flow PT, I don't mean like I just meant like yourself in person is what a better way of putting it, but I've just always called it onflow PT, but um inerson PT we'll say then. So, do you feel like you've got to have some that personal connection and before you put it online? Cuz we all know see now, you'll see it a million times.

I'll probably do your edit does mine where people have never got no PT experience and all of a sudden I can build a six figure contract. You can live in Dubai. You don't even need to see your clients like all that [\h__\h] >> Yeah. So, >> it's a you can't do that. I for me I'm just like >> it's a difficult one for me because like I started and I would just give him my friends plans and workout plans >> before I'd ever trained anyone. >> Yeah.

But then it were like they weren't working as well as like it does now. And it is because now it's like all right. So when people have never done this before that's their mobility might not be able to do that. So it's better to see in person and see what people are capable of. I think the in person is definitely needed for you know our people training to like the higher end of failure like I don't think that happens if you know you don't watch people train and understand like what they think is failure is not. >> Um same with the cardio.

I think people, you know, we can all walk on a treadmill for half an hour and not really do much. >> Yeah. >> I think it's very different to when they have you in person pushing them and then even if it's just a few sessions and then they come away and can think like right I know what level I should be aiming for or more. And I think to be a to be a successful PT with a lot of people >> um I think to be a successful PT that can help people you've got to have that experience of doing it with people. >> Yeah. I think it's me. It's just the qualities. Do you know the um the people skills?

I think so. If I ever did stuff online then what I did is same as people I did in I was still just checking up one more time. How you getting on? >> Yeah. >> How you getting on? Don't always need to be have you done have you done your mile run this week and like [\h__\h] get off me back man. Like I just feel like just being a person and being a normal person.

I feel like >> I made more of a more of a thing to do it when it was online to be like how you getting on? Are we doing all right? >> Don't need to train. How you feeling today? >> I'm feeling good and building trying to build it that way. That was my approach anyway. Again, there's a better probably miles better online PTS than me.

I'm definitely >> This is This is the beautiful thing about it. There's there's always unique ways that people do it. Like everyone can do it and be successful in their own way, >> 100%. But as long as you're not going it down the route of well people are just going to buy my programs and follow my nutrition and get results like you're not being inclusive and you're not being actually emotionally uh capable to handle these people when they fail because you're not doing it to help them win. You help you're there to give them hurdles so they can learn how to do this on their own.

You're not supposed to be there forever. So yeah, there's a place for online. Um I think the way you do it is absolutely perfect. I think online coaches that treat it as you're there to help them. You're not just there to sell them a program.

That's what an online coach is. >> 100%. And that's always my main point is people look for ways to make fast money and they get suckered in to this thing like, "Oh, well, I train anyway. I'll be a PT." And you have got to have a passion for it. You have got to have the passion for it. You've got to want to You've got to want to help people.

You can't just want to be on a beach with a laptop up taking photos telling people that you're making all this money. >> It's different between earning money and making money. You got to earn. >> Oh, definitely, mate. I earned more money driving a truck than I did doing what I'm doing now. But like you say, it's what do you get out of it? Yeah. >> And at some point, I wish you all the look of it anyway, mate, that you will get to a point where you where you're doubling that money.

And um >> Yeah. Well, it's a it's it's the people that you can help, isn't it? It's like you said, you know, when you hear and you hear the even just I feel so much better in myself or um I made it for that wedding and I feel so much better. It's like the things that you take away from it knowing that you could help that person. >> That's it. It's helping other people in that life. >> Just the thank yous after as well.

Just like you don't even need to like sometimes you can just see it from the this the photo at the wedding. >> Yeah. >> And the smiles on the face is like for me that's enough like I don't need a pat on back. like they come to me and that were enough appreciation for me. They chose me. >> That's it. >> How many PTs is there? And then they've gone, I want to go in. >> Yeah, that's it. And hopefully the people I can help, it'll be like I've saved their life. You know what I mean?

Because they are very big people. >> Oh, there's uh Yeah, that's a Yeah, again, mate, a great way of looking at it is um is a bigger picture, isn't it? >> Yeah, that's it. >> It's not just uh see how we can make them look good. It's could save someone's life. >> How they can feel good. >> Yeah, absolutely, mate. No better way. >> Yeah. I think >> to uh to finish up then um saving people's life, man. Like where do you where do you go from there?

Unless you've got else to say. >> No, I just say I think what you're doing is fantastic. I think the journey you've been amazing and this is the good thing about what we always try and say is you've got a story to tell. You've got a fantastic story and I think you can really build a business around your story and you're doing that and you're living body proof for that. So yeah, keep doing what you're doing and thank you for coming on. >> Yeah, thank you mate. Last thing, mate, is it what social media can can the people find you on? >> Um Tik Tok and Instagram.

It's uh Achor Trains. Um and Facebook's just my Facebook at Jack Aako. >> Perfect, mate. And uh for everyone else, like and subscribe. PT Launch Lab. Thank you for watching.